Sen. Risa Hontiveros Reaction To Guilty Verdict VS Rappler’s Maria Ressa, Reynaldo Santos Jr.
MARIA RESSA – Here’s Senator Risa Hontiveros’ reaction to guilty verdict vs Rappler’s boss Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos Jr.
Filipina journalist Maria Ressa is the CEO and executive editor of the Philippine news site Rappler. In 2017, businessman Wilfredo Keng filed a cyber libel case against her and former research-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr.
The subject of the case was a 2012 article written by Renaldo claiming that the businessman lent his vehicle to Ex-Chief Justice Renato Corona. The article also tagged Keng in drug smuggling activities and human trafficking.
On Monday, June 15, the Manila Regional Trial Court finally released the decision on the libel case against Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos Jr. Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa found Rappler’s boss and the writer guilty of violating Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
Both of them are the first journalists in the country to be found guilty of cyber libel. The judge sentenced Ressa and Santos to a jail term ranging from 6 months to 6 years. They are allowed to remain free after posting bail.
READ ALSO: Rappler’s Ressa Speaks About “Right” After Guilty Court Ruling
Based on a report from Senate.gov.ph, Senator Risa Hontiveros released a statement following the guilty verdict for Maria Ressa. She said the government is clearly going after the critics who dare to speak the truth.
“First, they came for the journalist. We don’t know what happened after that…”
“The attacks on the free press and journalists are a danger to our democracy and to us Filipinos,” said Hontiveros.
Risa Hontiveros said while the country is facing the pandemic, the government is trying to use the law to halt the journalists who are doing unbiased reporting. She said Maria Ressa’s guilty verdict “sends a chilling message to all.”According to the report, the opposition senator also urged her countrymen to speak out.
“I urge everyone to speak out. Dumarami tayo. We are complicit if we are silent. Takot sila, kaya nila tayo pinapatahimik,” she said.
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